Maymont Foundation RFP

In preparation for a major infrastructure improvement project to replace the roof and ventilation system for the historic Maymont Mansion, Maymont Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals for Museum Collections Care Services for Packing and Storage of the Maymont Mansion Collections.

Project Overview

As Maymont approaches its 100th anniversary as a public space, Maymont Foundation is embarking on a campaign to enhance the guest experience, expand accessibility and capacity, and build resiliency for the future — Maymont 2025.

Maymont 2025 will leverage a combination of public and private funding to ensure Maymont continues to delight, educate and inspire guests for another 100 years. Funded in part by an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to promote and expand regional tourism, the project encompasses two distinct scopes of work. One scope will replace the roof of the Mansion and modernize its ventilation, fire suppression and safety systems to protect the building and its collections, as well as guests. The other scope will enhance visitor experience and guest engagement with the wildlife habitats that house rescued, post-rehab native Virginia species.

Before the project begins in late fall 2023 and continuing through its completion in fall 2024, the entire contents of the 12,000-square-foot Maymont Mansion will need to be carefully packed up and stored away.

Scope & Timeline

The Mansion collections comprise approximately 3,000 objects, including works on paper, paintings, furniture, ceramics, silver, books and decorative arts objects, which will require approximately 5,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage. The pack-up will begin in August 2023 and need to be completed within 7 to 9 weeks, wrapping up in October 2023.

Bidder Requirements

The collections will need to be packed according to best practices for museum packing and storage. The art handlers should be knowledgeable in all media and packing materials. In addition, the art handlers will need to create some custom crates and boxes.

The successful bidder will supply all materials necessary for the job. References for similar types of experience will be required.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:

• Project cost
• Ability to do the work within the proposed timeline (7 – 9 weeks, August – October)
• Qualifications (preference will be given to companies that can perform both packing and storage, rather than 2 separate vendors)
• Minimum of two professional references and description of previous experience with similar projects

Proposal Submission

Proposals and qualifications must be submitted via email to Kathy Garrett-Cox, Curator and Director of Historic Resources and Collections, at kgarrettcox@maymont.org by 5:00pm on April 28, 2023.